Bruce Power first Canadian company to win Innovation Award at the Nuclear Energy Institute’s Nuclear Energy Assembly

Bruce Power safely harvests Cobalt-60 from its Bruce B reactors during planned maintenance outages. The blue glow of the Cobalt-60 is called the ‘Cherenkov Effect’ and is a result of gamma radiation travelling through water faster than the speed of light travelling through water. When that occurs, photons are released, which creates the blue light. The Cobalt-60 is stored in water in the Secondary Fuel Bay until transported for processing. It is used then used to sterilize 40 per cent of the world’s single-use medical devices like syringes, sutures, and surgical gowns, masks and gloves.

Today, Bruce Power received a Top Innovative Practice Award (TIP) for its work with Nordion on the production of Cobalt-60 at the Nuclear Energy Institute’s (NEI) Nuclear Energy Assembly in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Running May 22-24, NEI’s 64th annual Industry Conference and Supplier Expo: Nuclear Energy Assembly is the annual conference of the nuclear technologies industry that brings together leaders from all levels. A highlight of the conference is the TIP Awards, which are the nuclear industry’s highest recognition of excellence. Since 1994, the TIP Awards have recognized the new and creative ideas and techniques developed by the nuclear industry’s talented workforce direct impact on improving the safety and reliability of the nuclear energy industry.

“We are thrilled to be the first and only Canadian company to receive a TIP Award,” said Mike Rencheck, Bruce Power’s President and CEO. “Bruce Power takes great pride in receiving this award, and in our partnership with Nordion. Our 2016 agreement with Nordion allows us to make Cobalt-60, which sterilizes more than 40 per cent of the world’s single-use medical devices, such as sutures, gloves and syringes and saves lives by treating cancer patients.”

Over the past five years, Bruce Power has been the recipient of numerous awards including being named Top 100 Canada’s Biggest Infrastructure Projects in 2017 for its ongoing Life-Extension Program, Achievers 50 Most Engaged Companies, a Top Employer of Young People (six straight years), one of Canada’s 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures, the Platts Energy Award for Industry Leadership, and a Gold standing for Progressive Aboriginal Relations from the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business.